Stover Family November/December 2017 Prayer Letter

My heart is touched each year as I read the Christmas story and meditate on its tremendous significance. Luke 2:15b states, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” We then find the shepherds going with haste to find the babe in a manger. What are we doing today with “what the Lord hath made known unto us”? Are we obeying with haste? Am I? May we all be obedient and efficient carrying out what the Lord would have us to do!

Christmas Cantata

I want to start out sharing a huge answer to prayer. The Lord blessed our Christmas cantata. We were especially excited that Estefany, the teen girl who has been struggling with meningitis, was able to be in attendance along with her dad and brother. This was the first time she has been able to be back at church since she has been sick. She is doing better, and we appreciate those of you who have been and continue to pray for her recovery and for her family’s salvation.

Bible Institute

With the Lord’s help, we were able to finish out the year strong in the Bible Institute. Now we will be on summer break until the next semester begins in March. I had the privilege of teaching Baptist Distinctives this semester. To finish out the year, Enoc Principe, who pastors the Bethel Baptist Church in Trujillo, Peru, came and taught a very enlightening course on Calvinism. He used the Bible to teach the importance of refuting Calvinism through a Biblical defense of the Scriptures. What a blessing it was to learn together with the pastors and members of the 3 other churches in our team, as well as to have pastors from 2 other nearby cities in attendance!

Summer Outreach Opportunities

Please be in prayer for us as we minister in several different areas this summer. We have planned an evangelism training time, teen camp, 3 vacation Bible schools, our annual church anniversary conference, and special Sundays throughout the coming months. We are excited that Bro. Fred Kindhart from MWBM will be coming to preach our anniversary conference, January 19-21. He is a former missionary to Mexico with a great love for lost souls and a passion to see the world reached for Christ. Please pray that people would be saved and that Christians would be revived during this special time.

We are thankful that in the past 2 months two ladies who have been visiting the church regularly have professed Christ! Please pray for their continued growth.

Family Update

Joshua (7), Elijah (2), and I recently celebrated birthdays, and Zachary will turn 4 in January. The Lord reminds us that time is a precious gift from Him. Please pray with us that we would invest our time wisely in our children as we seek to train them up in the right way. We are also excited to announce that the Lord has blessed our family with another precious baby due in May. Lydia (5) is especially excited that around her birthday it looks like she will finally be getting a baby SISTER! We appreciate your prayers for Sara and the baby.

Our family would like to thank each of you who have sent cards and special gifts for Christmas. We would also like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for being our partners both in prayer and financial support.